No Max?
01/11/1999 . Source: Jessica Martin 

Now that makes us Mad.

Buy Mad Max in the USA - or Buy Mad Max in the UK

A couple of months ago George Miller, the director of the new Mad Max film sneaked some details to wet the appetite of the BBC's viewers, when he put Mel Gibson, the original Max, back in the frame for the next movie in the series.

But now a couple of well placed US film columnists are said to have talked to Mel, only to discover that our Australian hero hasn't even been asked if he wants to take part in a fourth outing of the Road Warrior.

Contrary rumours are now circulating - some that say that George Miller wants a younger actor to play the part. Another that the 4th film will be set a couple of hundred years in the future, extrapolating a society slowly recovering from the collapse of civilisation.

One of the suggested plots is an incursion into the desert lands by Asiatic invaders from across the sea, and the survivor tribes struggle to free themselves from slavery.

If Mel Gibson is being sidelined from the new Max it will as like as not be his third SF disappointment this year.

Why? Because his remake of Fahrenheit 451 - the Ray Bradbury novel where a totalitarian regime pays firemen to burn books- has slowed down and may be stuck beyond rescue in the Hollywood mud.

Strike three came when the movie Deep Blue Sea which he had turned down as a second-rate Jaws went on to become a surprise hit in the US, pulling in loads of wonga for the cast and movie makers.

The lesson we can learn from this? When it comes to SF & fantasy and your career, just say yes is the best way to keep the filthy green stuff flowing into you bank account (hey, don't believe us, just ask Will Smith).

If the Road Warrior is your specific bag, have a look at the Mad Max Forever site. Max.org, now that is a classy URL.